12iron

Hey, another newbie question: I'm currently getting anywhere between 90 and 110 yards with my 5 iron when I feel that I've hit it well. I do the same with my 7 iron, actually. This seems to be way below the average. Is this something that builds up with time and technique? I'm calling today to book my first lesson. -12i

My first ever 18 holes this morning (twice around the local 9 hole course). I shot from the red tees (4866 yards, 67.5 rating/118 slope), and counting the penalties for firing it into the water, I shot 141. 69 out and 72 in. First round ever! -12i

Great point! I joined three guys from church on their round 2 weeks ago. Two of them were in a cart, and I walked with the third. I learned a whole lot just watching them play, especially about order of play (they play ready golf up to the green) and what you said about bringing wedge and putter to the greenside. Today I quite cheerfully waved groups through; I wasn't in a rush, so I'd just hang out in the shade out of their way and let 'em go. I told one old guy that this was my first round ever and he came over to me, shook my hand, and said, "Welcome to the best waste of time yet invented." -12i

Thanks for all the support, folks! I kept score this time around because this was a special occasion. I want to hang on to this first scorecard for posterity, so I can look back years from now and say "Wow, five years of lessons, range buckets, reading, magnetic bracelets, planning vacations around golf, watching the Golf Channel, and playing, and I've gone from a 140 to a 135!!" Unfortunately I live in a town that has been hit with a pretty bad case of the blues in the last few decades, a coal town in Appalachia. Fortunately, this means that the course here is rarely swamped with players, and it's only about 10 blocks from my house. It's $20 for all day play (like I can leave, go have lunch, and come back later and play another round) with a cart. What I felt good about: I had a few decently straight tee shots with both driver and 5 wood, and my putting was alright. The one time I wound up in the bunker, I hit a pretty decent sand shot to get out. I was impressed with it, at least. What clearly needs work: good contact especially with the irons. I did notice that my best shots were my slowest swings. I'll pay attention to that. I can't wait to get back out there. -12i

Alright, I went out to the local 9-hole course and played it twice, from the red (shortest) tees. Counting the penalties, I shot 141. Clearly I have my work cut out for me, but I had a blast. I just waved through anyone who was sneaking up behind me, and took a chance to sit in the shade and watch them come through. Lots of fun. I even had 4 shots that I felt quite pleased with! -12i

Alright. We've got a 9 hole course here in town, and I might just head there tomorrow and go on out, if it's quiet. I'll sit out if someone comes through behind me, pick up and walk on if I'm getting bored or frustrated, and see how it goes. Why not?! -12i

I wish I'd seen this thread before last week, when I went to the range Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. By Friday night I was getting that "big bruise, kicked in the side" feeling. I haven't even had my first lesson yet! That's probably made it worse. My body isn't at all used to swinging a club. I feel stupid now. -12i

This is awesome, folks. You're giving me a lot of encouragement. Another priest in my diocese has told me that she often hits the par 3 course near to her in Lexington. I've got a meeting up there with her and some other people on August 18th, and we've got a date to play that course in the morning. So now I've got a date to aim for! I've been to the driving range 4 times this week, and bits and pieces are coming together. My first lesson will be sometime next week. -12i

I'm just starting out with this, so I'm working on the very beginning of my swing. I'm using almost exclusively a 7i at this point, and working on slow, full swings with good contact. Do I have it yet? No. Today was my 6th bucket of balls and my first lesson is next week. But already I'm figuring out the effects of having the ball forward or back in my stance, and the effects of releasing my hands at the right time. At this point, a 50 ball bucket will give me 3 strokes that get up in the air and pointing mostly in the direction I'm aiming towards. I'm happy with that. -12i

Any suggestions on preventing this strain? Is it a question of flexibility or warming up or rotational core strength exercises? (Probably all three, of course...) -12i

Alright. I went to Play It Again Sports down in Knoxville and picked up a dunlop putter for $8. I tried everything that was less than $40, and this was oddly the one I kept picking up again and again. We'll see. -12i

When should a beginner feel able to hit his or her first 9 holes? Off the top of my head I'd expect a few lessons that cover: driving/tee shots irons chipping putting bunkers a primer on rules and etiquette And, what, when I hit 50% of my shots on the driving range reasonably well? 40%? 60%? -12i

I'm a priest! I went out for my first trip around the local 9-hole course with some of my parishioners. They played, I just took a few swings here and there to see what it's like. One of the guys felt uncomfortable because he couldn't use the kind of language he was used to using on the course. I told him it was ok. -12i

That is hilarious! Should I keep a few putters next to each other to encourage a little jealousy? -12i

Hey y'all. I'm a complete newby at this (1 visit to the range so far, first lesson is next week) and I'm going to be down in Knoxville at the Play It Again Sports there tomorrow. I was thinking about picking up a used putter to add to my 7 iron (which is a Ping Rapture v2). There are so many different types of putters out there! How do I even begin to narrow it down. I've read the threads that say "just putt with them all and take home the one that feels right" but there must be more than that. Any advice? -12

So I went yesterday to the range at the university just south of me. It turns out that the boyfriend of someone in my church works there, so I *may* have gotten hooked up with a free bucket of balls. I hit a lot of really hilarious shots, and some that were embarrassing. But then there were those few that whirrrrred off the club face and soared out 100, 105 yards. Man, that was awesome. So I'm going again tomorrow, down in Knoxville. Still just hitting the 7 iron. -12i

Guys at church are finally talking me into trying golf. I walked around the local 9 hole course with them today, and I stopped by to speak to the assistant pro at another nearby course . I'm going to sign up for lessons with him next week, but in the meantime he gave me a Ping Rapture v2 7 iron to take home with me to practice the grip (and to get me hooked and remind me to book my lesson, of course). I'm going to be up in Lexington on Tuesday and I have some time. Is there any reason why I couldn't take my new 7 iron to a driving range and give it a whirl? Is there anything I need to know first? -12i

Hi everyone. Some of the guys from my church have talked me into picking up golf, and I've got my first lesson sometime next week. We'll see how quickly I start to hate it, but I hope to get a few nice walks in first. Plus I'm going out to visit my grandparents near Pebble Beach next month. I'm in the southeastern corner of Kentucky, near the Cumberland Gap. Hmm, now I have to figure out how to do a signature... -12i